FPO will develop a peer counseling model to provide information, education and health system navigation for trans and gender diverse people in the Champlain region (Ottawa and surrounding counties) in a way that is that is peer-driven and by/for trans and gender diverse folks. The project will be seeking community input in a few ways:

1. Two Advisory Committees: Community Representatives; Provider and Professional Perspectives (PPP).2. Three Open Community Consultations.3. Three Identity-Specific Consultations.

THIO, as one of the three collaborating partners, will also be setting up times throughout the next 12 months to create additional opportunities for feedback, input, and updates.

If you are interested in participating in the Community Advisory Committee, please submit your expression of interest (one page) by Sunday, 11th June. More details can be found on Facebook: http://bit.ly/2rRCuLn

3. COMMUNITY CONSULTATIONS, IDENTITY-SPECIFIC GROUPSThe reason for these focused consultations is to learn more about the needs of these specific groups. Transfeminine people, people of colour, and Indigenous people are under-represented at THIO’s Town Halls and were under-represented in THIO’s health access survey. As such, these focused consultations are a way to find out more about what’s important to individuals within these groups and how we can support them.

If you belong to an identity group other than those listed below and you’d like a focused consultation we will hold one if there is interest from three or more individuals. Please contact kprempeh@thiottawa.org to make arrangements for this.

• June 20th, 6-8pm <— date will be re-scheduled as this is the day before National Aboriginal Day

Can’t Make It to the MeetingsPlease let us know if you’d like to provide input but cannot make it to the meetings. We would love to speak with you by phone, Skype, or in person at a different time for your input. Examples of reasons you cannot make it to a meeting: scheduling conflict, need childcare, anxiety or depression, sensitivity to lights or noises, PTSD, too far to travel, or other reason. You don’t need to tell us why you can’t make it. Just let us know you’d like to meet one-on-one, tell us what you need to make the meeting successful, and we will do our best to make arrangements. Contact Keya at kprempeh@thiottawa.org

THIO (Trans Health Information Ottawa) is administering a questionnaire on access to health services in Ottawa and surrounding areas. If you are trans, Two Spirit, gender diverse and/or intersex AND you live around Ottawa and surrounding counties or Gatineau, this questionnaire is for you.

We will use results to advocate for improved access to healthcare for our communities.

We have set a goal of 100 completed questionnaires by Friday, April 28th. If we reach this goal THIO will donate $150 to the Venus Envy Pay It Forward Program. Funds from this program are used to purchase binders and gaffs for those who need them.

Four of THIO's community organizers have joined others in asking the National Gallery of Canada to cancel a talk by Jordan B. Peterson tomorrow. Peterson is known as an outspoken opponent of transgender rights. THIO believes it is a harmful and grave misstep for our national art institution to host, and thereby tacitly endorse, a public figure known for his intolerance and lack of respect for the lived experiences of others. Read the full letter below.​

Joël Xavier and Rika Moorhouse were guest bloggers for Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Week (Feb 12-18). Thank you to Action Canada for Sexual Health and Rights for the opportunity to talk about trans health!

Please help spread the word about two part-time positions in trans health. The incumbents will work with THIO (Trans Health Information Ottawa), Planned Parenthood Ottawa, and Kind to carry out a one-year pilot project funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation. The focus of this project is peer counselling, health system navigation and education- by and for the trans community in Ottawa.

​The deadline for applications has been extended until 11:59pm on Monday, February 20th.

Below was our Facebook announcement about the Trillium grant from 19th January:We have some exciting news to announce. THIO along with Planned Parenthood Ottawa (PPO) and Kind have secured a $75,000 grant from Ontario Trillium Foundation. These funds will be used to develop (a) health system navigation by and for our communities, (b) a peer counseling program, and (c) education/training on trans health. Key words: BY & FOR!

A big thank you to PPO and Kind for their partnership. PPO will act as the administrative home for this grant as THIO does not currently have non-profit status, staff or an office. :)

We will provide details of how the money will be spent at a future Town Hall meeting. We also have a decision-making Town Hall coming up this Saturday, 21st January. At this meeting we will decide on how THIO can be democratic and accountable to community when it comes to strategic direction, participation and use of funds. Please come if you can!

Centretown Community Health Centre (CCHC) is in the process of revising its care model to improve access to hormone starts and maintenance. As part of this change, CCHC will be hiring a part-time Community Support Worker. Please note that this position is a seven month contract due to resource constraints.

THIO is working with CCHC and other providers to secure new funding from the Champlain LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) for trans health services in 2017. Please come to THIO's town hall meetings to find out how you can support and contribute to these efforts.